2023 Team Preview: Vacaville Bulldogs

The Road to the California State Games begins with the 2023 California high school baseball season. With the season just around the corner, our staff has begun putting out team previews from all around the state, getting you prepared for another year of exciting coverage.

Today we focus on the Vacaville Bulldogs who, in 2022, made a run to the CIF SJS D1 quarterfinals and an overall record of 15-15. Banking on its versatility in 2023, the Bulldogs are looking to challenge for a Monticello Empire League title and clinch another berth to the CIF SJS D1 playoffs under Head Coach Stu Clary.

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Team:

Vacaville Bulldogs

Head Coach (years at school):

Stu Clary (9th year as varsity HC; 15th season with program)

Twitter Handle:

@VacaHiBaseballl

CIF Section & Division:

CIF SJS D1

Conference/League Name:

Monticello Empire

Last Year’s Record:

15-15

8-7 (League)

2022 Playoff Run:

Lost in quarterfinals of CIF SJS D1 playoffs to Franklin

# of Returning Starters:

5

# of Returning Pitchers:

6

Team Expectations:

"Our expectation is to compete with vigor and represent the school in a manner that will make our community proud both on the field and off. We expect to be competitive in every game, to challenge for the MEL championship and to qualify for and advance through the CIF/SJS playoffs."

Team Strengths:

"The 2023 Bulldogs will have a deep and talented roster. We will strive to throw strikes, make the routine plays on defense and put the ball in play on offense. Our versatility should be a plus; we will feature many players that play multiple positions so we will be able to mix and match depending who is on the mound.  We return five different players that hit home runs in 2022."

Areas of Improvement:

"I feel like all of our momentum from our 2017-2020 teams came to a grinding halt with the pandemic. We are just now regaining our culture of winning baseball. The talent is there, it is up to the coaches and team leaders to emphasize the little things that win games and for the players to execute those things."

College Commitments:

Cal Elvis (Kansas), catcher, junior, 6'0", 180, R/R.  Younger brother of Cole Elvis, c/o 2018

Cy Dempsay (Oregon Tech), 2B/3B, senior, 5'11", 175, R/R

Drew Carrington (JC, Butte), SS/RHP, senior, 6'0", 165, R/R

Eli Blurton (JC, Umpqua), RHP, senior, 5'9", 160, R/R

Top Uncommitted 23s:

Bennie Dyer, OF, 5'10", 185 L/L.  2022: .382, 9 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR

Nathan Schnell, 1B/DH, 6'7", 235, R/R.  2022:  .271. 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR

Drew Lammon, 1B/DH, 6'0", 190

Drew Ferrier, RHP, senior, 6'2", 180, R/R

Danny Marino, RHP/OF, 6'0", 180, R/R

Lawrence Westbrook, OF/LHP, 5'11", 175. "Missed half of season in '22 due to SOP. Power pitcher who also shows plus speed & easy power on offense."

Top Uncommitted 24s:

Tyler Chalk, 3B/RHP

Luke Johnson, OF/1B

Trey Quezada, OF/1B

Brendan Murphy, 2B/SS

Top Uncommitted 25s:

Jaydon Oldwin, OF

Dom Yacovetti, LHP/OF

Payton Olds, RHP/1B/3B

UPCOMING EVENTS